Device for replacing air within a container headspace

ABSTRACT

The air remaining within a headspace of a can filled with a liquid such as carbonated drink, juice drink, tea drink, coffee drink or the like is replaced with either of steam, a mixture of steam-carbonic acid gas, a mixture of steam-nitrogen gas, and a mixture of carbonic acid gas and steam-nitrogen gas. Therefore, the quality of filled liquid can be maintained, and to become worse of working environment can be prevented without flying carbonic acid gas in all directions at workshop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container when filling liquid therein, and more particularly to such an apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container filled with a liquid such as carbonated drink, juice drink, tea drink, coffee drink or the like.

[0002] A conventional container filled with a liquid by the filling machine is transferred to the sealing machine by means to be sealed by a cap or the like, and during the period when the container to replace the air therein.

[0003] Concerning such conventional air replacing apparatus, carbonic acid gas is blown into the headspace of the can filled with a liquid. Therefore, the air replacing apparatus in the prior art can maintains the quality of a liquid such as carbonated drink, juice drink or the like, however, the working environment becomes worse causing the carbonic acid gas blown flies in all directions at workshop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container which can maintain the quality of a liquid such as carbonated drink, juice drink or the like filled into a can. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container by being blown either of steam, a mixture of steam-carbonic acid gas and a mixture of steam-nitrogen gas. It is still another object of the present invention to provide such apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container which can prevent to become worse the working environment causing flying carbonic acid gas in all directions inside the working place.

[0005] The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0006] It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top view illustrated a state in which a mixture of steam and gas is blown showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line of 3-3 in FIG. 2;

[0010]FIG. 4 is an explanatory view supplying a mixture of steam and carbonic acid gas showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 5 is an explanatory view supplying a mixture of steam and nitrogen gas showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view supplying steam only showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 8 is an explanatory view supplying a mixture of steam and carbonic acid gas showing the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 9 is an explanatory view supplying a mixture of steam and nitrogen gas showing the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 10 is an explanatory view supplying a mixture of carbonic acid gas and nitrogen gas;

[0017]FIG. 11 is an explanatory view supplying steam only showing the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] An understanding of the present invention may be best gained by reference FIGS. 1 to 6. FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrate an apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Numeral 1 shows an apparatus for replacing air within a headspace 4 of a container defining a can 3 filled with a carbonated drink 2 by being blown gases including a mixture of steam-carbonic acid gas or a mixture of steam-nitrogen gas into the headspace 4 of the can 3 to replace the air therein.

[0024] The device 1 is composed of a boiler 5 generating steam, a supply path 12 of steam, a supply path 15 of gas and a supply path 21 of a mixture of gases. The steam supply path 12 includes a closure valve 6, an electromagnetic valve 7, a reducing valve 8, a filter 9 and a control valve for steam flow 10. The steam generated by the boiler 5 is admitted through the steam supply path 12 to a mixer 11. The gas supply path 15 allows gas to flow from either of a carbonic acid gas reservoir 13 defining a gas cylinder, tank or the like and a nitrogen gas reservoir 14 defining the gas cylinder, tank or the like to the mixer 11. The mixed gas supply path 21 includes a thermometer 19 and a pressure gauge 20. A mixed gas 16 mixed into the mixer 11 is admitted through a thermometer 19 and the pressure gauge 20 to a nozzle 18. The mixed gas 16 is blown into the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with a liquid defining a carbonated drink 2 by the noble 18.

[0025] The gas supply path 15 further includes a supply path 28 of carbonic acid gas and a supply path 33 of nitrogen gas. The supply path 28 introduces carbonic acid gas includes a closure valve 22, a filter 23, a mass-flowmeter 24, a electromagnetic valve 25, a reducing valve 26 and a control valve 27 for gas-flow. The carbonic acid gas provided from the carbonic acid gas reservoir 13 is admitted through the carbonic add gas supply path 28 to the mixer 11.

[0026] The supply path 33 introduces nitrogen gas includes a closure valve 29, a filter 30, a mass-flowmeter 31 and an electromagnetic valve 32. A bottom end of supply path 33 is connected to a voluntary portion located between the electromagnetic valve 25 and the reducing valve 26 of the supply path 28. The nitrogen gas provided from the nitrogen gas reservoir 14 is admitted through the supply path 33 to the supply path 28.

[0027] In accordance with the above-mentioned invention, at first, when the mixture of steam and carbonic acid gas is blown into the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with the carbonated drink 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the steam is supplied into the mixture 11 by opening the closure valve 6 and electromagnetic valve 7 of the steam supply path 12. Likewise, the carbonic acid gas is supplied into the mixture 11 by opening the closure valve 22 and electromagnetic valve 25 of the carbonic acid gas supply path 28 of the gas supply path 15. A mixture of steam and carbonic acid gas defining an inert gas is blown out of the noble 18, and the mixture gas has been blown into the headspace 4 of the can 3.

[0028] When the mixture of steam and nitrogen gas is blown into the headspace 4 of the can 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the steam is supplied into the mixture 11 by opening the closure valve 6 and electromagnetic valve 7 of the steam supply path 12. Likewise, the nitrogen gas is supplied into the mixer 11 by opening the closure valve 29 and electromagnetic valve 32 of the gas supply path 15. A mixture of steam-nitrogen gas defining an inert gas is blown out of the noble 18, and the mixed gas has been blown into the headspace 4 of the can 3.

[0029] Moreover, when the steam is blown singly into the headspace 4 of the can 3 only, the steam is flown into the mixer 11 by opening the closure valve 6 and electromagnetic valve 7 of the steam supply path 12 as shown in FIG. 6. The steam gas defining an inert gas is blown out of the nozzle 18, and the steam gas has been blown into the headspace 4 of the can 3.

Different Referred Embodiment of the Invention

[0030] Other embodiments of the present invention will now be described referring to FIGS. 7 to 14. Through the drawings of the embodiments, like components are denoted by like numerals as of the first embodiment and will not be further explained.

[0031] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. It is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the bottom end of the nitrogen gas supply path 33 is connected to a voluntary portion located between the electromagnetic valve 7 and the reducing valve 8 of the supply path 12. In an apparatus 1A for replacing air within the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with the carbonated drink 2 formed in this way according to the second embodiment, the mixture of steam-carbonic acid gas, the mixture of nitrogen gas-steam, the mixture of carbonic acid gas-nitrogen gas or the single-handed steam can be blown selectively into the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with the carbonated drink 2. Therefore, the apparatus can replace air within the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with the carbonated drink 2.

[0032] A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12. It is distinguished from the second embodiment by the fact that the carbonic acid gas reservoir 13 is replaced with the nitrogen gas reservoir 14, and the nitrogen gas reservoir 14 is replaced with the carbonic acid gas reservoir 13. M apparatus 1B for replacing air within the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with the carbonated drink 2 formed in this way according to the second embodiment will provided the same effects as the second embodiment.

[0033] A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13. It is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the steam gas is supplied through the thermometer 19 and the pressure gauge 20 into the nozzle 18. In an apparatus 1C for replacing air within the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with the carbonated drink 2 formed in this way according to the fourth embodiment, the air remaining within the headspace 4 of the can 3 can be replaced surely by steam.

[0034] A fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 14. It is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the nitrogen gas supply path 33 is replaced from another nitrogen gas supply path 33A. The supply path 33A includes the closure valve 29, filter 30, mass-flowmeter 31, electromagnetic valve 32, reducing valve 26A and control valve 27A. The nitrogen gas provided from the nitrogen gas reservoir 14 is admitted through the supply path 33A to the mixer 11. In an apparatus 1D for replacing air within the headspace 4 of the can 3 filed with the carbonated drink 2 formed in this way according to the first embodiment, the air remaining within the headspace 4 of the can 3 can be replaced surely by steam, the mixture of steam-carbonic acid gas, the mixture of nitrogen gas-steam, the mixture of carbonic acid gas-nitrogen gas

[0035] Moreover, concerning each of embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus can be used for a can filled with not only a carbonated drink but also juice drink, tea drink, coffee drink or the like.

[0036] As set forth above, the advantages of the invention are as follows:

[0037] (1) An apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container comprise a boiler and a support path of steam introduce the steam to a nozzle through a steam regulator valve, a nozzle blowing gas into the headspace of the container filled with a liquid, located at a seaming device of a container filling apparatus, so that a mixture of steam-carbonic acid gas or a mixture of steam-nitrogen gas defining an inert gas is blown into the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with a liquid, and the air remaining within the headspace 4 of the can 3 filled with a liquid for drinking can be surely replaced by the inert gas.

[0038] Therefore, the quantity of the inert gas such as carbonic acid gas used can be reduced as compared with that of single handed-carbonic acid gas in the prior art.

[0039] Moreover, it can prevent to become worse the working environment.

[0040] (2) As discussed above, the air remaining within the headspace of the can defining a container can be replaced surely by a mixture of steam and carbonic acid gas. Therefore, the quality of filled drink can be maintain as done before.

[0041] (3) As discussed above, a mixture of steam and carbonic acid gas or nitrogen gas is blown into the headspace by the nozzle. Therefore, replacing operations can be done easily and efficiently.

Note

[0042] 1) An apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a can filled with a carbonated drink includes a boiler; a supply path of steam admitting a steam generated by the boiler through a control valve for steam-flow into a mixer; a supply path of gas admitting gases provided from either of a carbonic acid gas reservoir and a nitrogen gas reservoir through a control valve for gas-flow in to the mixer; and a supply path of a mixture of gases admitting mixture of gases supplied into the mixer into a noble blowing it into the headspace of the can filled with the carbonated drink therein.

[0043] 2) An apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a can filled with a carbonated drink includes a boiler; a supply path of steam admitting a steam generated by the boiler through a control valve for steam-flow into a mixer; a supply path of gas admitting gases provided from either of a carbonic acid gas reservoir and a nitrogen gas reservoir to the steam supply path as occasion demands; a second supply path of gas admitting gases provided from either of a carbonic acid gas reservoir or a nitrogen gas reservoir through a control valve for gas-flow in to a mixer; and a supply path of a mixture of gases admitting mixture of gases supplied into the mixer into a nozzle blowing It into the headspace of the can filled with the carbonated drink therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container comprising: a boiler; and a supply path of steam admitting said steam through a steam control valve for steam-flow to a nozzle, said nozzle blowing gas into said headspace of the container filled with a liquid, located at a seaming device of a container filling apparatus.
 2. An apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container according to claim 1, wherein said steam supply path includes a mixer being disposed between the control valve for steam-flow and said nozzle thereof; and a supply path of gas being connected with said mixer, admitting a gas provided from either of a carbonic acid gas reservoir and a nitrogen reservoir through a control valve for gas-flow to said mixer.
 3. An apparatus for replacing air within a headspace of a container according to claim 1, wherein said steam supply path includes: a mixer being disposed between the control valve for steam-flow and said nozzle thereof; a supply path of gas connected between said boiler and said control valve for steam-flow, admitting gases provided from either of a carbonic acid gas reservoir and a nitrogen gas reservoir to the steam supply path as occasion demands; and a second supply path of gas connected between said boiler and control valve for steam flow, admitting gases provided from either of a carbonic acid gas reservoir and a nitrogen gas reservoir through a control valve for gas-flow into said mixer. 